Roof structure



Oct. 11, 1927- J, MILLER ROOFSTRUCTURE Filed Dec. 6v 1926 I Patented Oct. 11, 1927.

UNITED STATES JQHN A MILLER, 01? HOME-WOOD, ILLINOIS.

ROOF STRUCTURE.

Application filed December 6, 1926.

a long span from the center post supporting structure to cover a large extent of floor space;

To provide improved unitary truss structures whose sole support is a central postand which are spaced and assembled to receive the roofing material and to thus build up'the roof structure; and, in general,

To provide a simple, durable and'inexpensive shelter supported on posts along a central line and having its sides entirely unobstructed and entirely free to the passage of people or vehicles, the structure being practical and desirable for covering long walks or promenades in amusement parks or elsewhere, or for covering and protecting parking space for automotive vehicles. I

My improved structure is disclosed on the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is an end elevational view;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view; and

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view on line 33 of Figure 1.

The structure shown comprises a row of center posts which may be of wood or steel and set in concrete 11. Each post supports a truss structure comprising an upper arch of chord member 12 and lower chord or brace members 13 and 13. Each truss structure is supported at its middle and extends to each side of its supporting post. The truss structures are constructed entirely of stock lumber.

The upper chord members 12 shown comprises a base part built up of the laminations 14: of lengths of lumber, two layers being shown and these layers are nailed together. Above the base partis the web part comprising the horizontal laminations 15 of lumber, the web being of less width than the base to the shoulders 16 and 16 for sun:

Serial No. 153,015.

porting the purlins 17, which extend between and at right angles with the truss structures and which support the roofing material 18 which may be in the form of sheet metal plates. I I

The layers 15 are nailed together and the web and base parts are also nailed-together and during the building up of the phord member, it is given its desired curvaure.

The lower chord members 13 and 13 are bullt up of laminations 19 of suitable lumber, these laminations being nailed together while the chord members are being built up to desired curvature. The lower chordsassooiated with each upper .chord extend from the supporting post to the outer ends of the upper chord, the lower chord being arched and engaging with the supporting post a distance belowthe engagement of the upper chord, with the post. At their inner ends, the lowerchords engage in recesses 20 formed on the post.

upper and lower chords, they are directly secured together by means of bolts 21. Where the chords are separated, studs 22 in the form of wooden posts are interposed and the chords are drawn together and against the stud ends by the bolts 21. If desired, lattice work 23 may be inserted between the studs to stiffen and strengthen the stud structures, the studding and lattice work building up the web section of the truss structure.

Where the chord members are closer to gether, sections 24 of plank can be inserted edgewise between the chords and the bolts extended therethrough and through the chords.

With the arrangement described, the upper chord members will be under tension and the lower chord members will be under compression. The upper chord members are practically of sufficient strength to maintain their shape and curvature of themselves, so that the lower chords, while assisting the upper chords in maintaining their curvature, will serve mainly to hold up the ends of the upper chords so that the truss unit will always be at right angles with its supporting post. Under compression, the lower chord members will tend to buckle upwardly but this is prevented by the web section including the studding and lattice The lower chords act, in a great For a distance along the outer ends of the measure, like the struts of an umbrella to extend between the umbrella staff and the ribs to hold the ribs in proper position.

As before mentioned, sheet metal may be the roofing material secured on the purlins 17', although other material may be used A ridge board or cap 25 is shown whicheverhangs the upper ends of the sheet metal or other roofing plate. In the structureshown, the upper chord members extend in the arc of a circle and the lower chord members likewise extend each in the are of a circle, the inner ends of the lower chord members being on a level with their outer ends.

With my improved construction, a long span is possible so that the ground covered by each side of the truss structures is of considerable width without the employment of additional support between the ends of the truss structures and the ground.

- Having described my invention, I claim the following r 1. In a. roof structure, the combination of asupporting post, a truss structure comprising upper and lower chord members, said upper chord member being composed of and being composed of horizontal laminahorizontal laminat-ions and being supported at its middle on said post, the lower chord members extending from the post to the respective ends otthe'upper chord member tions, the lower chord members being bolted directly to the upper chord member at the outer ends thereof, and struts interposed between the'upper and lower chord members along the inner ends of the lower chord members, said chord members being each of arch curvature.

2. In roof structures, the combination of a supporting post, an upper chord member extending across and supported at its middle on said post, said chord describing an arc whose center is in the post axis, a brace chord member at each side of the post extending from the post from a distance below the upper chord to the respective end of the upper chord, each lower chord member describing an arc whose center is in a line midway between said post and the respective end of the upper chord member, and struts interposed between said upper and lower chord members.

3. In a roof structure, the combination of a supporting post, an upper chord member describing an arc and supported at its middle point on said post, a lower chord member extending from said post to each end of the upper chord member and describing the arc of a circle, the ends of said chord members lying in a common horizontal line, said lower chord members being secured directly to the ends of the upper chord member and Spacing gradually away from the upper chord member towards the post, studs between the upper and lower chord mem bers, and bolts extending through the chord members to hold them in position.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 7 my name this 23' day of November, 1926.

JOHN A. MILLER. 

